My 5 Reasons Why (I do this work)
I needed to understand why food and weight was such a problem for me. In my early 20s, I lost nearly 100 lbs. Then began the struggle to keep it off; I used fad diets, constantly feeling hungry and crashing back into snacking, overeating, and emotional eating.
I was overwhelmed by the medical system. I was raised by my grandparents, so when my grandma started to show signs of an impending Alzheiemer’s disease diagnosis, I became her primary caregiver. I was constantly anxious about how to give her the best care in a system that didn’t make sense.
I wondered if I was doomed to end up like my family. Many of my family members struggle with mental health issues, including drug addiction and/or other substance abuse. I personally struggled with PTSD from a very young age. I didn’t understand how an entire family could be so sick and I often worried about my future.
I was diagnosed with Celiac disease. At the age of 30, I suddenly had an answer that also gave me a lot more questions. Was this why, since childhood, I constantly had an upset stomach? I was always told it was IBS or a stress belly and that I needed antidepressants. Should I have just stayed away from gluten the whole time?
I was struggling with fertility issues. After 3 miscarriages in a row, multiple surgical procedures, and a long, frustrating, and emotional road, I finally gave birth to my daughter in December 2020.
After years of feeling powerless, learning about my genetics allowed me to connect the dots and helped me gain my power back. It changed my life in such a dramatic way that it was impossible for me to keep quiet about it. I talked about it with friends and colleagues, and then I took action: I left my career in natural supplements and went back to school to become a Holistic Nutritionist.
Now I’m sharing everything I’ve learned and getting results that make what I do worthwhile.
Some of the knowledge I gained that helped me understand my issues include:
Genetics account for 70% of our metabolism and body weight. If we want to lose the weight and keep it off in a way that is realistic and enjoyable, we need to know this.
Alzheimer’s is genetic, but a lot of things have to go wrong for it to be switched on. Examples of this are detoxification, stress response, diet, and neurotransmitter genetics.
Mental health and addiction are connected directly to our genetic predispositions. These genetics account for 40% of anxiety and depression risk and that number increases when talking about addiction. Some of us are even predisposed to greater stress responses than others, creating a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder response.
“Genetics loads the gun, environment pulls the trigger.” Celiac disease is genetic and can be turned on at any point in our lives. For me, it was the trauma of slowly losing my grandmother that switched this gene on. So how can we support these genetics being in their positive positions, even in the face of trauma or stressful events? Stress can turn over 90% of our genes into their adverse position.
Fertility isn’t simple. To truly understand it, we have to first look at predispositions for hormones, detoxification, overall nutrients, and inflammation. And that’s just the beginning.
And finally: integration works. We cannot fix one part of our body without examining it as a whole.
Genetics isn’t always the only part of the equation, but it can sure help us understand the root cause. To find out how your genetics can uncover solutions to your main health complaints, book a free 15 minute consultation with me.